Pesquera Reserva is a classic of Ribera del Duero – one of the greats. It is made by Bodegas Pesquera, today one of the most highly regarded wineries in Spain. Its founder, Alejandro Fernández, began making wine as a child with his father, using grapes from the family’s small vineyards. In 1972 he founded his winery in a small 16th-century stone wine press, where he made fine, elegant wines that earned him worldwide recognition. Pesquera Reserva is a single-varietal Tinto Fino, the queen variety of Ribera del Duero. The grapes come from vineyards on poor sandy and gravelly soils, trained low to make the most of the heat rising from the ground. After destemming, the grapes ferment at a controlled temperature for 2 to 3 weeks. Once fermentation is complete, several pressings are carried out before ageing in American and French oak barrels for 24 months. After ageing, Pesquera Reserva rests for 12 months in bottle before release. It can be enjoyed now or cellared in good conditions for the next 5 years, during which it will gain complexity and nuance. Pesquera Reserva is one of the great classic wines of Ribera del Duero.
